Robert Jenrick has backed Nigel Farage's proposal to sell the Chagos Islands to America rather than ceding them to Mauritius.
The former Tory leadership contender blasted the Labour government as "weak and feckless" over the planned handover of the British territory.
Speaking on GB News, Jenrick said he would prefer US control of the islands over Mauritius, which he claimed has close ties to China.
Jenrick told Patrick Christys: "This is our own sovereign territory, it's been British since 1814."
Robert Jenrick
GB NEWS
"There is no reason we should be giving this away," he added.
He argued Britain should show "self-respect" and refuse to surrender the islands.
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"Keir Starmer could do that tomorrow to veto it," Jenrick said.
He welcomed potential intervention from Donald Trump, stating: "I would love to have President Trump to step in and end this fast."
Jenrick expressed concerns about Mauritius' relationship with China, noting the country "participated in over 47 agreements with China where China is investing in them."
He cited Admiral Lord West, former head of the Navy, who suggested China's interest in the deal stems from wanting to control the strategically important base.
Robert Jenrick joined Patrick Christys on GB News
GB NEWS
"If, God forbid, Keir Starmer wants to proceed with this, yes, I would prefer it to be US territory rather than Mauritian territory," Jenrick said.
Farage told the Commons he would rather hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to the US than "corrupt Mauritius".
The Reform UK leader suggested colonial guilt was behind the agreement.
"If we're going to give this up, let's sell. Let's sell, let's get a few billion quid," Farage said.
He added he would "rather see America have the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands than a corrupt Mauritius".
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel warned that Britain's enemies are "rubbing their hands with glee" at the uncertain future of the Diego Garcia military base.
Jenrick said the handover is a 'betrayal of Britain'
GB NEWS
She questioned what would happen if Mauritius refused to extend the lease or demanded too high a price.
"We've lost control," Dame Priti said of the agreement.
When challenged about Tory involvement in starting negotiations, she responded: "It's not the Conservative Party that's putting forward a surrender deal."
MPs ultimately rejected a Conservative motion calling for greater transparency on the negotiations.
Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds defended the deal as "necessary", telling MPs a legally-binding international judgment against UK sovereignty is "inevitable" without an agreement.
She insisted the arrangement would ensure "continued, uninterrupted operation" of the Diego Garcia base.
The deal will "cement UK and US presence in the Indo-Pacific for generations to come," Dodds said.
She criticised opponents for failing to suggest how they would secure the base's future.
